Mr. Cade chuckled at Lowell’s look of outrage and said: “Well, I wouldn’t bother with him too much. If he doesn’t want to come out after Harland’s talked with him I guess we’ll be better off without him. After all, a man’s got to have some liking for football before he can play it well.” Clem, Lowell and Hick Powers went to luncheon together after practice was over and then repaired to Lowell’s room in Lykes and lolled about for an hour or so, by which time the summer-long peacefulness of the school was at an end. Taxi-cabs sped, honking, up Meadow street and swirled into the drive that led along in front of the dormitories, voices awoke echoes in the corridors, feet clattered on the stairs, trunks banged and dust floated in at the window before which the three boys, divested of coats and collars, lounged. “The clans gather,” murmured Lowell. “Another year of beastly grinding begins. Ah, woe is me!” Hick Powers, big, homely and good-natured, chuckled deeply. “Hear him, Clem. The old four-flusher! Of all the snaps, he’s got it. Four courses, mind you!” “How do you get that way?” demanded Lowell indignantly. “I’m taking six the first half-year!” “Yeah, four required and two snaps! Bible History or--or Eskimo Literature, or something! Gee, it doesn’t take much to get you guys through your senior year!” “But think how we worked to get there!” laughed Clem. “You’re junior, aren’t you, Hick?” “Sure! Finest class in school! First in war, first in peace, first--” “First at table,” ended Lowell. “What time is it?” “Twelve after two,” answered Clem. “Guess I’d better mosey along and see if Jim Todd’s arrived.” “Oh, don’t go,” protested Lowell. “We’re just beginning to like you. What time’s he due?” “I don’t know. Maybe he won’t get in until late. I suppose it takes quite a while to get here from Maine.” “Sure. Two or three days. You do the first thousand miles on snowshoes. Then you take a dog-sled at the trading post--” “You’re a nut,” laughed Clem. “I’m sorry for you, Hick. How do you think you’re going to get through nearly nine months with him?” “Oh, he won’t get funny with me,” answered Hick comfortably. “I’ll give him a paddling every now and then. I’ll make a new man of him by Spring.” “You, you big flat tire!” responded Lowell. “It would take three like you to paddle me! If it wasn’t so hot I’d box your ears for making a crack like that right in front of visitors!”